Homemade snow brings joy to kids, grownups

Local News

Discussion

January 11, 2010

John Oxford

MOULTRIE — Residents and passers-by on Holly Trail saw a very unexpected site at one house Saturday: a snow covered lawn.

Chance Barber said he wanted his two children, Libby and Luke, to experience playing in snow and began two years ago searching for ways to make snow himself. After several searches, he found the SNOWatHOME Web site at www.snowathome.com, which provided free plans on building a snow machine.

Using parts ordered from the Web site and items bought at a local hardware store, an air compressor and a pressure washer, Barber said he was able to build his own snow-making machine. The recent frigid temperatures gave him the perfect opportunity to try the device.

“The unusual extended cold weather was motivation for me to get out and make a lot of snow,” Barber said. “It worked perfectly. We had friends, neighbors and just curious folks drive by, stop and get out to look at or feel the snow.”

Children from all around, and even some adults, spent the day Saturday playing in the snow-covered yard, Barber said. The machine gave him the opportunity to give something to his children and other children may not have otherwise experienced.

“Some of the children that came over had never seen snow before,” Barber said, “and that is what made it so much fun. The kids had a blast, and it brought out the inner kid in the adults as well. I could not have dreamed the results as being any better.”